Tributes flow for restaurant entrepreneur
TIM Bacon, the bar and restaurant entrepreneur who changed the face of Manchester and Liverpool’s dining scene with his Living Ventures brand, has died aged 52.
He died suddenly but peacefully in his sleep, on Friday night, having spent the past 16 years living with lymphoma.
Jeremy Roberts, chief executive of Living Ventures, said: “Tim has had many enduring friendships with people in his private and professional life because of his vibrant, honourable and generous spirit.
“He gave his all to everything he did, especially to his family and his friends who were incredibly important to him. I will greatly miss him as we all will and I’ve lost a true friend.”
It was the first of many touching tributes for a man whose influence and popularity was evidenced by an outpouring of emotion over the weekend.
Lawrence Jones, the founder of IT firm UKFast, said in his blog that he first encountered Tim at JWJohnsons on Deansgate, when he was the manager, before becoming firm friends.
Jones said: “He not only knew how to pick the right people to build a team, he also inspired each and every person to work to the best of their ability and often beyond. Somehow he created an instant connection.
“I have seen it in Richard Branson and many business leaders, but none to the extent of Tim Bacon. His was a warmth that was so infectious, it is difficult to put in to words, yet anyone who knew him will know exactly what I mean.
“The early years with Tim were a brilliant learning curve for me. He was my greatest mentor and friend I could have asked for in Manchester.”
Living Ventures restaurants dominate Manchester – from The Alchemist, Artisan and Australasia to Manchester House, The Grill on The Alley and Gusto.
In a moving tribute, Mike Ingall, chief executive of Allied London – whose Spinningfields development is home to many of these restaurant brands – said: “Honestly, I say this without reservation, condition or caution, he was the most honest, genuine and honourable man.
“A man always true to his word, vision and values. Never once, on anything, did we need a contract. Of course, we had some issues, why wouldn’t we? Six very important business deals and millions of pounds to be lent, invested and made, but all we ever needed was a phone call (and a short one at that) before we moved onto the future, our lives and what we were doing next.
“Tim fought without ever being a victim. It was so easy to find the goodness in him, it was so easy to believe him and so easy to support him, you knew he would not let you down because he had a passion, and if that passion wasn’t there he would tell you.”
And Tim’s legacy continues as yet more restaurant openings are planned.
An Australasia is planned for the ground floor of Liverpool’s Cunard Building while it was announced only last month that Tim had reunited with former colleagues Dave Hinds and Lee Lynch – who together first brought the split-level JW Johnsons restaurant and bar to Manchester – to open the Red Door in the exact location on Deansgate in Manchester, underneath The Botanist.
Tim and Dave set up JW Johnsons in the 1990s, followed by Via Vita and Life Café across the UK, at which time they were joined by business partner Jeremy Roberts.
